Molas Pass Cabin: Guide to Photographing the Famous Fall Cabin in Colorado's San Juan Mountains
Everything you need to find and photograph the famous Molas Pass Cabin, including where to park, exact photo locations, the best time for fall colors, road conditions, and tips from my own visits.
What Is the Molas Pass Cabin?
If you've spent any amount of time looking at photos of Colorado in the fall, there's a good chance you've seen this cabin. A tiny wooden cabin surrounded by aspens with the Grenadier Range in the back, the Molas Pass Cabin has become one of the classic fall photography locations in Colorado's San Juan Mountains.
It's located just outside Silverton along Highway 550 near Molas Pass, and despite how remote it looks in photos, it's surprisingly easy to access. It's also incredibly easy to drive right past if you don't know where to look.
I've photographed this cabin during multiple fall seasons, and in this guide I'm sharing exactly where it is, where to park, where I personally stand to photograph it, the best time of day to visit, the focal lengths I use, and when I've found the aspens to be peak.
Despite how recognizable the Molas Pass Cabin has become among photographers, I haven't been able to find a reliable published history documenting when the cabin was built, who originally lived there (if anyone), or what it was originally used for. You'll often see it described online as historic or associated with the area's mining history, and there are also local accounts suggesting it may have been built as a movie set for the 1951 film Across the Wide Missouri. However, I haven't found a primary or authoritative source confirming any of these stories.
Know the history of this cabin? Leave a comment below. I'd love to learn more about it!
📌 More Colorado Fall Colors Guides
- Colorado Fall Colors - Find all of my fall color content in this hub
- Complete Guide to Fall Colors in Colorado - Everything you need to plan a Colorado fall colors trip.
- Where to See the Best Fall Colors in Colorado
- How to Track Colorado Fall Colors in Real Time
- Best Scenic Drives for Fall Colors in Colorado
- How to Photograph the Maroon Bells in the Fall
Where Is the Molas Pass Cabin?
Exact Location & Coordinates
The Molas Pass Cabin is located along Highway 550 approximately five miles south of Silverton, Colorado, near Molas Pass.
Molas Pass Cabin Coordinates: 37.762180, -107.675713
You won't see a large sign or designated attraction pointing you toward it, so having the exact GPS coordinates saved before you go makes finding it much easier. I'll cover exactly where to park and photograph the cabin below.
A quick note before you go: If you drive or walk directly to the cabin, please be respectful of the photographers shooting from farther away. Park well outside of the composition, take your photos, and move out of the shot when you're finished. For many photographers, this is a bucket-list location and potentially a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to photograph it.
Where to Photograph the Molas Pass Cabin
My Favorite Photo Location & Exact Coordinates
My favorite place to photograph the Molas Pass Cabin is from the hillside above it. From this angle, you're looking down toward the cabin with the Grenadiers filling the background, which gives you that classic view you’ve probably seen in photos of this spot.
My Exact Photography Coordinates: 37.763997, -107.677651
This is the exact spot I use for the classic Molas Pass Cabin photo. Be sure to move around this area rather than shooting from just one spot. Even a small change in position can give you completely different compositions, especially when using the surrounding aspens and road to frame the cabin.
Where to Park
There is a small pullout along Highway 550 above the cabin where you can park. This will be on your left if coming from Silverton and on your right if coming from Durango.
Parking Coordinates: 37.765617, -107.676713
The pullout is easy to miss, so I recommend having the coordinates saved before you arrive rather than trying to spot it while driving. Make sure your vehicle is completely off the highway before getting out, but there is plenty of room for multiple vehicles here.
How Far Do You Have to Walk?
The walk from the parking area to my favorite photography location is only 0.13 miles one way. There isn't a formal trail to follow, and you'll be walking across uneven terrain so make sure to wear sturdy shoes.
Round Trip Distance: 0.25 miles
Elevation Gain: ~50 feet on your way back to the car
Follow My Gaia GPS Track
Since there isn't a designated trail, I've saved my exact route from the parking area to the photography location on Gaia GPS. You can use my track to see exactly where I walked and where I photographed the cabin.
Note: My Gaia track only shows the one-way walk from the photography location back to the parking area. Simply follow the same general route in reverse to reach the photography spot. There is no designated trail, so consider this a reference route rather than an established hiking trail.
Molas Pass Cabin Photography Map
I've marked the cabin, parking area, my favorite photography location, alternative photography spot, and approximate walking route on the interactive map below so you can see exactly how everything is laid out.
Other Compositions to Try
Don't stop at the classic view. There are several different compositions you can find simply by moving around the hillside above the cabin.
Try shooting wider to capture more of the surrounding landscape, or use a longer focal length to bring the mountains closer behind the cabin. During fall, move around the hillside and look for different ways to use the aspens in the foreground to frame the cabin.
Can't Make the Walk? Photograph From Here Instead
If you're unable to make the walk down to the classic photography location, you can still get a beautiful view of the Molas Pass Cabin from closer to the parking area.
Alternative Photography Location: 37.764944, -107.677287
Best Time to Photograph the Molas Pass Cabin
I know it probably isn't the popular opinion, but if I had to choose one time to photograph the Molas Pass Cabin during fall, I'd take mid-morning (8-11 AM) or a variable cloudy day over sunrise/sunset every time. The ONLY exception is if it dumped snow the night before.
Sunrise
Sunrise can be beautiful here, but it isn't necessarily my favorite time to photograph the cabin. Because this view faces more toward the south, I've found that the best sunrise color is often slightly to the left of the cabin, and sometimes completely out of frame. I've missed some incredible sunrises hoping for the perfect conditions here, only to watch them just out of frame to the left.
That said, sunrise can be incredible after an overnight snow. Under the right conditions, you can get an inversion with clouds sitting low in the valley behind the cabin, which is unreal. Alpenglow hitting the Grenadiers really is beautiful.
Morning & Afternoon Light
Mid-morning, especially between about 8–11 AM, is my absolute favorite time to photograph the Molas Pass Cabin in the fall. By this point, the sun begins to backlight the aspens around the cabin, making the leaves absolutely glow.
Afternoon can also be beautiful if you have variable clouds creating dappled light across the landscape. On a bluebird afternoon, however, the sun hits the aspens more directly from the front, which can make the colors look surprisingly flat and dull.
Sunset
Sunset skunks me out here almost every time.
The sun sets behind you from this viewpoint, which can leave the foreground in shadow rather than giving you that warm light you might expect from a traditional sunset location. I've seen some gorgeous sunset photos from this spot, but you're really counting on an incredible sunset that lights up the clouds across the entire sky.
When to See Fall Colors at Molas Pass Cabin
The last week of September is the most common peak window I've seen at the Molas Pass Cabin, although fall color timing can shift significantly from year to year depending on weather and conditions.
One thing I've consistently noticed is that the aspens around the cabin tend to peak about 5–7 days after the aspens in the town of Silverton. If Silverton is looking close to peak but the cabin is still fairly green, don't write it off. This area often just needs a few more days.
When I've Personally Photographed Peak Fall Colors
I've been photographing fall colors around the Molas Pass Cabin for years, and these are the exact dates I've personally photographed the cabin at or very close to peak:
- September 18, 2018
- September 26, 2020
- September 26, 2021
- October 2, 2021 (slightly past peak)
- October 2, 2022
- October 5, 2023
- September 27, 2026
Unfortunately, this is a pretty significant range, from as early as September 18 to as late as October 5. While the last week of September is still the window I would generally watch most closely, these dates are a good reminder that there is no single date you can count on for peak fall color here.
The good news is that once the aspens reach peak, the color will often hold for 3–7 days if wind or a storm doesn't knock the leaves down. Under good conditions, you usually have several days, and sometimes close to a week, to catch them.
What Peak Fall Color Looks Like Here
For me, I consider the Molas Pass Cabin at peak when the aspens in the foreground have turned their bright yellows, oranges, and reds and the aspens behind the cabin have turned yellow. This gives you color throughout the entire composition rather than having one part of the scene at peak while another is still green.
That said, it's still beautiful when there is some green mixed in, which can actually give you a wider range of colors throughout the scene. One of my favorite photos I've ever taken at the cabin was when the foreground still had quite a bit of green. If I had to choose, I'd always rather be a little early than a little late.
One important thing to know: don't be discouraged if the aspens you see from the parking area already look bare or like they're dropping their leaves. This is common, and those trees aren't the same aspens you see in the classic cabin composition. Some of the aspens closest to the parking area aren't particularly healthy and often drop earlier, so it's still worth walking down to check the actual view before assuming you've missed peak.
Best Focal Lengths for Photographing Molas Pass Cabin
My Favorite Focal Lengths
The majority of my photos at the Molas Pass Cabin are shot between 35–105mm, but my favorite compositions are usually between 45-70mm. At 70mm, you get enough compression to make the mountains feel larger behind the cabin while still leaving plenty of room for the sky, foreground, and surrounding aspens.
I like shooting closer to 35–50mm when I want more of the landscape in the frame, especially when there are interesting clouds or foreground aspens I want to include. Moving toward 85–105mm gives you more compression and lets you isolate the cabin against the mountains and fall colors.
If I could only bring one lens here, I'd choose a 24–105mm or similar mid-range zoom. That said, I rarely shoot above 70mm here, so if you only have a 24–70mm, that's completely fine, too. Both give you plenty of flexibility to change compositions without having to physically move very far.
Road Conditions & Getting to Molas Pass Cabin
Do You Need 4WD?
No. You do not need 4WD to photograph the Molas Pass Cabin from my photography location in normal, dry conditions. The photography location is accessed directly from Highway 550, which is paved, and you'll park at a small dirt pullout along the highway.
If you want to drive directly to the cabin itself, that's different. A high-clearance 4WD vehicle is recommended for the unpaved route down to the cabin.
However, road conditions can change quickly here, especially during fall. Whether you need AWD or 4WD for Highway 550 has much more to do with the weather than accessing the photography location itself.
Driving Highway 550 During Fall
If you're coming from Durango, keep in mind you'll cross Molas Pass at 10,910 feet before reaching the cabin. The cabin and parking area sit slightly lower, but you're still traveling through very high-elevation terrain.
Late September and early October can absolutely bring snow and ice to Highway 550, even when conditions are warm and dry at lower elevations. If weather is moving through, check road conditions before you go, especially for an early morning or sunrise visit.
In dry conditions, any passenger vehicle can make this drive. If there's snow or ice, that's a completely different story.
Weather & Snow at Molas Pass
Weather can change quickly at this elevation, especially during fall. It's not unusual to have warm sunshine one day and wake up to fresh snow the next, so I always recommend checking the forecast right before your visit. That said, snow can create absolutely unreal conditions here, especially when the Grenadiers in the background get a fresh layer overnight while the aspens are still holding their fall color.
What Happens if It Snows?
Honestly, some of my favorite conditions at the Molas Pass Cabin happen after a fresh snow. Fresh snow on the mountains with the aspens still holding their fall color can make this spot absolutely incredible. This is the only exception I make to shoot sunrise here.
Snow can also completely change the conditions around the cabin. The hillside can become wet, muddy, icy, or snow-covered, and because there isn't a formal trail to the photography location, use extra caution walking down from the parking area.
If it snows overnight, don't automatically cancel your plans. As long as Highway 550 is safe to travel, fresh snow can create some of the best photography conditions you'll get here.
How Crowded Does Molas Pass Cabin Get?
Despite how popular the Molas Pass Cabin has become with photographers, I've honestly never found it overwhelmingly crowded. During peak fall colors, you should expect other photographers to be here, especially around sunrise and on weekends, but there is plenty of room to spread out along the hillside and find your own composition.
If you're hoping to have the area mostly to yourself, your best bet is a weekday. Just remember that this is a popular photography location during a very short fall color window, so don't expect complete solitude during peak.
This is another reason I love photographing the cabin in the mid-morning. I don't need a tripod, so I can move around, shoot handheld, and try different compositions without being tied to one spot.
Please Be Respectful of Other Photographers
Please be mindful of other photographers when you visit this location. This is one of the most recognizable fall photography spots in the San Juan Mountains, and for many photographers, getting this shot may be part of a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Colorado.
If you choose to drive closer to the cabin, park far enough away that your vehicle isn't sitting in everyone's shot. Please don't camp directly at the cabin or set up in a way that blocks the view for hours. If you want photos at or around the cabin, absolutely take them, but once you're finished, move out of the way so everyone else has the opportunity to get their photos, too.
There may be photographers lined up quite a distance away using telephoto lenses, so just because you don't see someone immediately beside you doesn't mean you aren't in someone's composition.
Basically, enjoy your visit, take your photos, and be considerate of the other people who made the trip to photograph it, too.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Molas Pass Cabin
Where is the famous fall cabin in Colorado?
The Molas Pass Cabin is located along Highway 550 about five miles south of Silverton, Colorado, near Molas Pass in the San Juan Mountains. The cabin sits just below the highway and is easy to miss if you don't know where to look.
Can you drive to Molas Pass Cabin?
Yes, but there's an important distinction between driving to the photography location and driving directly to the cabin.
For the classic view from above, you can drive any passenger vehicle along paved Highway 550 in normal, dry conditions, park at the pullout, and walk approximately 0.13 miles to my photography location.
If you want to drive directly down to the cabin, you'll leave Highway 550 and follow an unpaved 4x4 route. The road varies between packed dirt, loose gravel, rocky sections, shallow ruts, and small exposed rock ledges, with several steeper climbs and descents. A high-clearance 4WD vehicle with low range is recommended for this route, although the obstacles should be manageable for most stock high-clearance 4x4s in good conditions.
There are designated dispersed campsites along the route, but camping is not allowed at the cabin itself. Signs near the cabin clearly designate the area as no camping, so use one of the established sites before reaching the cabin if you plan to camp.
Do you need 4WD to reach Molas Pass Cabin?
You do not need 4WD to reach my photography location above the cabin. In normal, dry conditions, any passenger vehicle can drive Highway 550 to the parking area. The highway is paved, but the parking pullout is dirt.
If you want to drive directly to the cabin itself, a high-clearance 4WD vehicle is recommended.
How far is the walk to photograph Molas Pass Cabin?
From the parking area, it's approximately 0.13 miles one way to my favorite photography location, or about 0.25 miles round trip. There isn't a designated trail, and you'll be walking across uneven terrain with about 50 feet of elevation gain on the way back to your car.
What is the best time of day to photograph Molas Pass Cabin?
My favorite time to photograph the Molas Pass Cabin is mid-morning, usually between 8–11 AM, when the sun begins to backlight the aspens and makes the fall colors glow. Variable cloudy days can also be incredible when pockets of sunlight move across the landscape. The only time I'd personally choose sunrise is after a fresh overnight snow. I typically avoid sunset because the sun sets behind you, which can leave much of the foreground in shadow.
When do fall colors peak at Molas Pass?
Molas Pass Cabin usually peaks about 5–7 days after Silverton, most commonly during the last week of September. I've personally photographed the cabin at or near peak anywhere from September 18 to October 5, although both ends of that range are less typical. Most of my peak dates have fallen between September 26 and October 2. When Silverton is at peak, the cabin is often close enough to peak that you can photograph both during the same trip.
Map of My Favorite Colorado Fall Color Locations
Click the map below for all of my exact Colorado fall color locations.
Final Thoughts
...From Someone Who Plans Their Life Around Fall Colors:
Literally though. I LIVE for fall colors in Colorado. I take time off work for 2-3 weeks every single year for fall—and it’s always the same weeks. Because they work consistently. If you give yourself flexibility and understand how the timing actually works, you won’t miss it.
Visit the last week of September or first week of October. You’ll hit peak somewhere in Colorado—just be willing to be flexible and adjust location.
Planning a photography trip to Colorado for fall colors?
If you want exact locations, drives, and photo spots already mapped out (with time of day to shoot them): Check out my Colorado Fall Colors Guide. You can even download the guide in the app for offline access, so you'll always have it with you—even when you don't have cell service in the mountains. And be sure to join my Fall Colors Channel on Instagram where I update live color changes on the West Slope.
See you out there!
Mallory
